Sunday, 12 January 2014

Khobragade’s
episode shows that misplaced notions of pride guide Indian public sentiment.

Let’s step
away from a the debate about who is right and wrong in this unexpected diplomatic
tussle between India and the US over the treatment meted out to an Indian
diplomat Devyani Khobragade.

Mrs
Khobragade has been indicted in the US for visa fraud and for making false
statements about the compensation given to her housekeeper, who is also an
Indian. The row has strained the
relations between the two countries. India has acted swiftly to withdraw a
series of petty privileges enjoyed by the US diplomatic staff. It also expelled
one of the US diplomats.

But look at this: the diplomat’s father went on record to thank Indians who
‘stood with me like rock’ and ludicrously said that his daughter is so popular now that
political parties have approached both her and him to run in parliamentary
elections, and he might consider!

Clearly, Mr Khobragade must know
that his daughter has not done any heroic act. The fact of the matter is that
she has been indicted on serious charges. She has merely been made a ‘hero’
by the Indian foreign ministry.

New Delhi’s retaliatory responses and
stringent condemnation in the name of India’s honour is something that is can be easily sold to India’s not very well informed population.
They see that the manner in which the diplomat was arrested is detestable,
which is true, but miss the bigger picture. It also must be remembered that the complainant is one of us: an Indian. The ill treatment meted out to her (not proven) is something that many Indians systematically face everyday in some form or the other. Clearly,if they really understand the issue purely on humane terms, they would be able to relate more to Mrs Richards, the maid rather than the diplomat.

So, if political parties have
approached the Khobragades, it’s a national shame and speaks volumes about the
rickety nature of politics in this country.

Strangely India is fighting on the ‘immunity’
issue, and hasn’t condemned the crime committed by the diplomat. The MEA as a
powerful lobby, and given the nature of their jobs considers itself as a cut
above the rest and is trying the save its own skin.

It is now an open secret that
diplomats from all countries have been abusing their privileges. What is
difficult to understand is why a maid is needed when posted in developed
countries, when millions of ordinary Indians living abroad can do without one.

And, taking about national pride
and honour, let’s not forget that the diplomat in question is married to a US
citizen, her children- until this issue erupted -would have presumably been
brought up like Americans rather than Indians. She has used her position to
make her life comfortable for herself and her family. There is nothing wrong in
it. But when her husband is an American why could she not pay the legal minimum
wage to the maid? And, now when she is in trouble for offences committed against
someone who is also an Indian, why should ordinary Indians show solidarity with
her?

On the contrary, Mrs Khobragade
has done irreparable damage to the reputation of Indians at large by her
reckless and insensitive behaviour, and this could have serious repercussions on a number of issues related to foreign affairs where US support is needed.

Friday, 10 January 2014

A systematic reform of work culture is required
to fight India’s tough battle against corruption

2014 seems to usher a new hope for Indian
politics and governance. The debutant Aam Admi Party(AAP) that stormed into
power in Delhi promising to wipe out corruption has jolted political equations
in India. Its brilliant performance in Delhi polls and popularity elsewhere in
the country makes it a force to reckon with. Its leader Arvind Kejriwal is
already been compared with the India’s two other political stalwarts touted as
future prime minsters: Rahul Gandhi of the ruling Congress led UPA and Narendra
Modi of the BJP.

Let’s talk about the corruption issue that
the AAP promises to tackle head on. It has set up an anti graft helpline that
received 3904 calls on its first day of operation. The helpline will offer ‘government advice’ to
the callers to set up sting operations on corrupt officials. This is seen as an
unprecedented step in India’s fight against corruption.

Will it work? First of all
given the depth of corruption in India where everyone seems to be affected, the
very presence and the publicity of the helpline will make a difference.The results may be far more dramatic if a few
officials are named and shamed for taking bribes, and are persecuted. What is
really laudable is that it gives helpless citizens to resort to something
immediately to redress their grievances against a corrupt official. The
helpline will have pons and cons, but if handled properly it can at least be
the beginning of a battle against a deeply rooted problem in India.

In India corruption is not just about paying
bribes to get things done but it interlinked with deeply prejudiced social practices
of class and caste.. The entrenched class based bureaucracy, which is a fall
out of colonialism, emphasizes on safe guarding the status and power of those on
the top. The culture of hierarchy is such that it not only needs to be
preserved but must function in a manner so that it commands worship, respect
and inflicts fear on ordinary citizens. In rural areas this is further
reinforced by the caste system.

The beacon lights on cars, the need to address someone as ‘sir’ or ‘madam’,
personal subservience to superiors at work,the indifference to others, the need to assert one’s identity to get things
done, the power of might, abuse of domestic workers and people who are less
privileged are some of the many visible cultural practices that directly or
indirectly breeds and promotes corruption.

Such system of arrogance that essentially
abuse human rights and dignity of others must be eliminated. Fortunately, there
is a growing consensus that such things are wrong : the Supreme Court of India
has banned the use of beacon lights, the AAP has vowed to bring in a culture of
simplicity and transparency by shunning excess facilities that surrounds VIP.
These again might look symbolic and small measures but again it’s at least a
start of a big process to change the mindset of the people.

The behaviour outlined above is propelled by
greed and mad rush for wealth, something that has been a characteristic of all
developing economies. But in the 21st century, the answer to solve
many of these problems lies in technology. It is the only way in a country like
India to leap frog the human barriers to get access to something. Technology
brings in accountability and transparency.Only a few years back, getting a passport in India was a nightmare,
thanks to technology and the state –of – the- art passport offices, the process
is much simpler and easier now.

At institutional level fighting corruption in
India will require multiple approaches. It will require systematic reform of
work culture. This must include providing better infrastructure at work places
(look at India’s police stations, hospitals and government schools you don’t
want there to be again!), it will require installing a very sense of
professionalism and a reward system based on performance. Such reforms and
measures of checks and balances are equally needed along side a mechanism for
vigilance to win the battle against corruption in India.